The incident was reported around 5:45 a.m. on Balboa Avenue at Viewridge Avenue.
San Diego, CA – 67-year-old Ted Zuidema of Santee died after his motorcycle collided with a car Thursday morning in the Kearny Mesa community of San Diego, the San Diego County Office of Medical Examiner reported.
The incident was reported around 5:45 a.m., March 12, on Balboa Avenue at Viewridge Avenue.
According to authorities, Zuidema was riding a 2016 Triumph motorcycle westbound on Balboa Avenue when he collided with an eastbound 2025 Chevrolet pickup truck.
Police said the driver of the pickup truck, a 42-year-old man, entered the intersection on a green light while attempting to make a left turn onto Viewridge when Zuidema entered the intersection against a red light.
Zuidema was rushed to Sharp Memorial Hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
The pickup truck’s driver was not injured.
Investigators closed Balboa Avenue between Interstate 15 and Ruffin Road for about three hours following the crash.
San Diego is addressing a significant motorcycle safety challenge, with the county recording 317 serious injuries and 52 fatalities in 2023, the second-highest volume in California. While statewide motorcycle deaths decreased by 10.2% recently, San Diego remains a “high-risk” zone for riders, who account for a disproportionate share of severe outcomes. Data from the 2025 SafeTREC report identifies unsafe speed (29%) and automobile right-of-way violations (21%) as the leading primary crash factors. Fatalities are most frequent on weekends, particularly Saturday afternoons, and are concentrated on principal arterials and interstates like the I-5 and I-805.
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